Tenerife is preparing for evacuation drills due to the threat of a volcanic eruption.
The Tenerife government has discussed volcano eruption response plans with the municipalities and will conduct a training evacuation in Garachico at the end of the month to test the island's preparedness.
Yesterday, island authorities met with 31 municipalities to discuss how to act in the event of a volcanic eruption. They updated emergency response plans and agreed on a training evacuation in Garachico at the end of the month. This was announced by the head of the island, Rosa Dávila.
According to her, although there is no immediate threat now, it is important to be prepared. The meeting discussed how municipalities should inform residents about the necessary actions.
"We want everyone to act in a coordinated manner and know what to do, rather than improvise," Dávila emphasized.
They also discussed that each municipality should develop or update its action plan in case of an eruption, taking into account the level of risk in their area. The Cabildo promised to help with this, especially for communities with fewer than 50,000 residents.
A separate meeting was held with the six municipalities that are in the highest risk zone: Guía de Isora, Garachico, El Tanque, Icod de los Vinos, La Orotava, and Santiago del Teide. The development of detailed response plans was discussed with their mayors, police, and rescuers.
Mari Brito, head of the Canarian Federation of Municipalities, believes that all municipalities should be aware of potential risks and know how to act.
Blanca Pérez, Councilor for Ecology and Safety, assured that the authorities are doing everything possible to make Tenerife the safest island in the Canary Islands.
The meeting also discussed the upcoming evacuation exercises in Garachico, which will take place from the 22nd to the 26th of this month. All municipalities and the Government of the Canary Islands will participate in them.
Dávila stressed that these exercises are necessary to test the island's readiness for a volcanic eruption, and urged people not to panic.
"We have a volcanic risk response plan. Now we want experts to assess its effectiveness," she added.
On Monday, the Cabildo will meet again with the municipalities, as well as with representatives of the police and rescue services, to discuss the details of the exercises. They will begin on the 22nd with the announcement of a state of increased readiness. And on the 26th at 9:00 a.m., residents of the island will receive a message about the eruption and the evacuation from the area of the old Garachico pier will begin. More than a thousand people will participate in the exercises.